Copper recycling

At ASM Metal Recycling, copper is one of the metals we recycle regularly. Copper has been mined and recycled for thousands of years, since the days of the ancient Egyptians, no less. It continues to be popular today because it’s very hard-wearing and can be re-used a number of times.

There are various grades of copper, such as bare bright copper and insulated wires, which will make a difference to the price, so check our guide to make sure you receive the greatest possible reward for your effort.

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your scrap copper

Where can you sell copper?

Although you may be able to sell your copper privately, it’s always best to scrap your copper with an Authorised Treatment Facility (AFT). Scrap yards can take vast quantities of copper off your hands at extremely competitive prices. At the same time, they can help to recycle as much as possible — contributing to a more circular economy.

Why recycle copper with ASM?

It’s always better to recycle copper, rather than mining for it ‘at source’. Mining copper can be harmful to the environment through the release of waste gasses such as sulphur dioxide. Recycling prevents this.

If not recycled, copper might get put in a landfill: a very expensive practice that’s also decidedly bad for the environment. There are also substantial energy savings to be made. Recycling copper uses only 10% of the energy used to extract the source material. This saving can help the conservation of reserves like oil, gas, and coal.

Plus, it’s cheaper to recycle old copper than to mine new material. Recycling means that copper products are cheaper to buy.

ASM gets you the best price

At our recycling centres, we always offer our customers the most up-to-date prices for copper. We specialise in scrap metal recycling (and have done for over 55 years) so we know how to get the best price possible. Learn more about how we calculate scrap metal prices.

ASM respects the environment

We are fully licensed by The Environment Agency, we pride ourselves on the green approach. ASM is fully accredited with the ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 and an approved CHAS (Contractors Health and Safety Scheme) provider. All our sites are registered and 100% compliant with the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013.

ASM uses the latest technology

We use only the latest processing technology when recycling both ferrous and non-ferrous metals. We also work to improve the safety and efficiency of recycling all scrap metals and vehicles.

What kinds of copper do we accept?

We accept various sources of copper, from copper tanks and cables to heavy copper pipes. How much your copper pipes and cables are worth can depend on their condition. We can take them clean or dirty, but you may earn less for dirty materials as they need to go through a different process. So, if you’re not sure what to do with old copper pipes, wires or tanks, take them to a trusted scrapyard like ASM.

How is copper recycled?

Recycling copper involves a number of steps:

• First, the copper is separated into two main groups: clean unalloyed scrap and alloyed scrap containing oxidised or coated pieces.
• The clean scrap is melted down, and its purity level checked whilst molten. It’s then melted down into solid ingots.
• The contaminated scrap is also melted down, with a process called electrolysis used to purify it.
• The copper is then ready to be re-used.

Get in touch today

If you have scrap copper in any of the types and grades listed in our guide, ASM Metal Recycling can give you the best possible prices. Scrap metal prices can change by the day, sometimes by the hour, so we use digital scales to provide you the most accurate weight and value of your scrap copper, to guarantee the fairest price.

Find your local depot here, or check out our scrap metal collection services.